Abstract

This book is an anthology of both previously published and unpublished material consisting of four parts: "Poe and Lacan," "On psychoanalytic reading," "Derrida and responses," and "Other readings." The heart of the anthology is, however, the debate between the psychoanalyst Lacan and the philosopher Derrida. The debate concerns the interpretation of a story written by Poe, "The Purloined Letter." To his long essay on Poe, Lacan gave pride of place by pulling it out of chronological order and placing it as the first essay in his Ecrits. Lacan uses Poe's story to clarify and illustrate the explanatory power of two master concepts in his own theory: the imaginary and the symbolic. Derrida, in "The Purveyor of Truth," reflects critically on Lacan's theory and his selective use of Poe. The anthology acknowledges that it only includes roughly half of Derrida's original article. Nevertheless, Derrida's article still gives the impression of a hastily composed publication. Lacan's essay, however, gives the impression of being overworked.